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Members of Ventura Rotary South
Present Dictionaries to Local 3rd Graders

In a favorite January tradition, members of Ventura Rotary South participated in the annual Dictionary Give-away Program, purchasing and distributing over 300 student dictionaries to 3rd graders at three Ventura elementary schools.

Rosanna Colin and Melody Thurman visited Junipero Serra Elementary School on January 13; Marilyn Scott and Kendall Mattina took care of the give-away at Will Rogers Elementary on January 15; and Dennis Longwill and Sandy Warren visited Portola Elementary that same day. (The photo above shows Dennis addressing one of the five classes that he and Sandy visited.)

A big thank you to Marilyn Scott for coordinating the project once again. Thanks also to the members who came together to put Rotary Ventura South labels in the books, including Rosanna Colin, Dennis Longwill, Lee Ann Luongo, John and Kendall Mattina, Marilyn Scott, Jerry Spencer, Melody Thurman, and Sandy Warren. Kudos also to Bob Braitman and Monty Clark who volunteered to serve as "stand-by" presenters.

On Monday, December 22, members of Ventura Rotary South enjoyed a trip back in time to the Golden Age of Hollywood. Manny Pacheco, author of two books about "Forgotten Hollywood" spoke to the Club and shared fascinating anecdotes and little-known facts about some lesser-known stars of classic films. "There are plenty of books about people like John Wayne and Clark Gable," said Manny. "I decided to concentrate on actors that people recognize but may not immediately be able to recall their names." Examples included Van Heflin, Peter Lorre, and John Barrymore. Additionally, Manny's criteria for including a star in one of his books was a connection of some sort to U.S. history.

Manny's presentation included a video clip of the documentary he is currently working on, and he autographed copies of his two books for members who wished to purchase them. Manny has made the presentation to more than 50 Rotary Clubs - we're delighted to be the most recent of those!

Members of Ventura Rotary South gathered at The Collection shopping center in Oxnard on Saturday afternoon, December 6, to help build and decorate a "tree" out of canned food that the Club donated to FOOD Share, Inc., Ventura County's regional food bank. The Club donated $500 for this year's event, which consisted of a "forest" of more than 200 trees, stacked and decorated for the holidays.

Pictured in the photo above are (l to r) Sandy and Anne Warren, Bob Braitman, John Mattina, Monty Clark, Stacy Zaruka, Nils Johnson, Marilyn Scott, and Kendall Mattina. (Standing with Kendall is Maxwell, our official job supervisor for the day. Maxwell is the Mattina's grandson.)

For additional photos of the event, check out the link on the "Photo Album" section of our home page.

Thanks to all who turned out to lend a hand with the tree building and decoration!

"These are exciting and challenging times for Ventura," said Mayor Heitmann. She described the City's efforts to help new businesses get started with an "entrepreneurial zone" at City Hall. She noted the recent increase in sports tourism in Ventura with marathons, water sports, and bicycle racing at the new BMX track at Community Park on Kimball Avenue.

Mayor Heitmann also described the City's efforts to maintain the quality of core services, despite budgetary challenges. Such services include street maintenance, water and wastewater services, fire protection, and law enforcement. The Mayor noted that violent crime has decreased nearly 10% and burglaries are down about 17%. She also described a renewed emphasis on senior services through the Ventura Council on Aging, including a focus on providing transportation to seniors in need.

"Ventura is a wonderful place to visit, live and work," said Mayor Heitmann. Her presentation to Ventura Rotary South certainly confirmed that!

Educator and Literary Agent Toni Lopopolo
Instructs Ventura South on Book Publishing

On Monday, October 27, members of Rotary Ventura South enjoyed a fascinating lesson in current trends in book publishing from local educator and literary agent Toni Lopopolo. With an extensive background in editing and publishing, including positions as executive editor with MacMillan and St. Martin's Press, Toni heads up her own agency which partners with authors in developing and editing their projects. She has created a unique series of fiction "bootcamps" and writers' groups that she has named "Tea with Toni."

"The world of book publishing has changed radically in the last decade," said Toni. "The explosion of electronic publishing via the Internet has created a huge new marketplace." She noted that, while the quantity of available literature has dramatically increased, the same cannot be said of the quality. Most beginning authors fail to perform a much-needed step in the writing process: self-editing. They get to the end of their first draft and decide it's ready for publishing. "Not true," said Toni, "The greatest writers in history have been relentless editors of their own work." She also noted how valuable a professional editor can be.

While the digital age has brought many innovations to the world of publishing, Toni still prefers the traditional bound book format. She noted that the vast majority of major publishing houses are now owned by European companies.

Summing up, Toni advised the aspiring novelists in attendance to avoid several common pitfalls: submitting a manuscript without thorough editing, failure to master the craft of plot development, setting, point of view, etc., poorly developed or boring characters, and the use of passive rather than active voice.

All in all, the members of Rotary Ventura South left Monday's meeting with a clear idea of the challenges and rewards of book publishing.

Rotary Ventura South Members Enjoy Club Social
Hosted by Dennis and Jeannette Longwill

On a picture-perfect late Saturday afternoon, October 25, some 50 members of Ventura Rotary South and their guests enjoyed a wonderful Club Social, hosted by Club President-Elect Dennis Longwill and his wife Jeannette at their beautiful beach-front home in Mussel Shoals, just a few miles north of Ventura. Tasty hors d'oeuvre, a catered Mexican buffet, and a range of tempting desserts formed a perfect menu for the casual affair, and most of those in attendance spent the majority of their time on the Longwills' spacious terrace, enjoying the warm sun and cool afternoon breeze.

Huge thanks to Dennis and Jeannette for hosting such a lovely event, and to Family of Rotary Chair Melody Thurman for her assistance in organizing the food and drink. As any Rotarian will tell you, the third element of our Four Way Test asks the question, "Will it build goodwill and better friendships?" The answer on Saturday evening, as the sun set slowly into the Pacific, was a resounding Yes!

For a look at photos from the event, check out the Photo Album box on our home page!

At our regular meeting on Monday, September 29, Jonell McLain, a Board member of the Ventura Botanical Gardens, provided members with an enthusiastic and comprehensive update on plans for the Gardens, currently under construction in the hills behind Ventura City Hall and adjacent to Grant Park. Jonell noted that, upon completion, the 107-acre garden will be significantly larger than the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden.

"This will truly be a new destination of choice for visitors to Ventura County," said Jonell. We have over a hundred acres of lush coastal hillside overlooking one of the historic mission cities of California. This is truly a unique opportunity to enhance the already stunning beauty of the Ventura hills."

Jonell explained that the Gardens will actually be a combination of five garden areas: Australia, California, Cape, Chilean, and Mediterranean. "The Chilean section will feature the largest selection of native plants outside of Chile, including a grove of native palms."

Jonell also noted that there's an app for iPhone and Android, narrated by Stephanie Edwards, that will lead visitors through an audio tour of the completed Gardens, pointing out important botanic and geologic features. The Gardens will also include a library and visitors center.

For more information, visit the Gardens' website at venturabotanicalgardens.com. Thanks to Jonell for a terrific presentation!

Rotary Ventura South Welcomes New Member
During Visit from District Governor Loretta Butts

On Monday, September 15, our Club was honored by a visit from District 5240 Governor Loretta Butts and her husband, John. Loretta met with our Board members prior to our regular meeting at noon, then spoke to the general membership about current Rotary happenings at the District level, as well as her inspiring experience participating in a National Immunization Day (NID) in Nigeria some years ago. NIDs are an integral part of Rotary International's signature service project: the eradication of polio worldwide. When a member participates in an NID, he/she has the opportunity to actually administer the oral vaccine to children in an affected country.

Our September meeting was a doubly exciting event, as we welcomed Lee Ann Luongo as the newest member of our Club. Lee Ann works in fundraising for the Boys and Girls Club of Ventura. In the photo above, District Governor Loretta places a Rotary pin on Lee Ann, as Marilyn Scott, who recommended Lee Ann for membership, looks on. Welcome Lee Ann, and thank you Loretta for making our September 15 meeting so special and inspiring!

Professor Margaret de la M Offers Insights
On the Proper Use of Email for Business

At our regular meeting on Monday, September 8, Oxnard College Professor Margaret de la M treated members to a helpful "mini-class" in the proper use of email for business professionals. Among the many tips she shared were these:

When writing an email message, paragraphs should be short.

The best way to make several points in an email is to use lists with bullets or numbers.

If you know the recipient is often in a hurry, the best way to send a supporting document is in the body of the message, rather than as an attachment.

When sending a message, you should copy (cc) only those people who absolutely MUST know.

When writing a subject line, be specific and brief.

In addition to her work as a college English professor, Margaret is a business owner who trains people in Writing Skills for the Workplace. Judging by the number of comments and questions from our members, she did some fine training during her presentation to our Club!

On Saturday, July 26, members of Ventura Rotary South gathered at the Ventura National Guard Armory to provide support to the Annual Veterans' Stand-Down, a three-day event that provides a variety of assistance to homeless veterans throughout the County. Gerardo Sanchez, our Club's Vocational Service Chair, coordinated member participation, which included serving a barbecue dinner to more than 100 hungry veterans. Pictured above, from left, are Dennis and Jeannette Longwill, Don and Marilyn Scott, Nils Johnson, and Anne and Sandy Warren. Other Club members who participated, but are not pictured here included Gerardo and his wife Maria, Beth Lyons, and Bob Braitman. Check out the photo album in the menu on the right of the home page for additional pictures from the afternoon's event.

Recently, the members of Ventura Rotary South donated $500 for relief efforts in Valparaiso, Chile, where a devastating fire occurred in April. We received the photo below as an acknowledgement of the donation.

Our speaker on Monday, July 14, was author and facilitator Sondra Briggs. She introduced members and guests of Rotary Ventura South to the Mastermind Technique for Goal Accomplishment. Simply stated, Mastermind is a technique of gathering and consolidating resources necessary for attaining goals. It is applicable to individuals and groups. For the latter, Sondra shared a number of effective meeting techniques that foster collaboration and synergy. She also shared her personal experience of applying the principles of Mastermind and achieving a long-standing goal of traveling and working in Japan.

Ventura South Rotary Club threw a Step Down Dinner on Monday night, June 30, to honor President Dante Honorico and thank him for a fantastic year (2013-2014).

The step down dinner was held at the Wedgewood Banquet Center. After dinner, Dante reminisced on the year, and presented tokens of thanks to the many Club Members who contributed to the club's success. As his final official duty for the year, Dante passed the gavel to incoming President Sandy Warren, who thanked Dante for his outstanding service to the Club.

Ventura East Rotary Club threw a Picnic Bash on Sunday afternoon, June 29, to honor President Tim Hughes and thank him for a fantastic year (2013-2014). - See more at: http://portal.clubrunner.ca/2869/Stories/step-down-picnic-for-president-tim#sthash.YKPQTayr.dpuf

On Saturday and Sunday, July 26 and 27, long-time Ventura Rotary South member and former Ventura Mayor Jack "Twinkle Toes" Tingstrom will e salsa dancing at Oxnard's Annual Salsa Festival to raise money for CareGivers, Ventura County's renowned senior service organization. In typical "Dancing with the Stars" fashion, fans can "vote" for their favorite dancers by making a financial contribution. Every dollar donated equals one vote. They's also looking for Club as well as individual sponsorships for this worthy group that trains volunteers to work with frail and needy Ventura County senior citizens.

For additional information, please contact CareGivers Executive Director Tammy Glenn at 805-658-8530 or email her at tammy@vccaregivers.org. CareGivers is celebrating its 30th anniversary in the County this year (and Jack happens to be celebrating his 79th birthday as well!).

Ventura Rotary South Now Sister Club
With Rotary Club of Olmue del Valle, Chile

On Monday, June 9, members of Ventura Rotary South voted unanimously to accept the invitation from Julio Rocha of the Rotary Club of Olmue del Valle in Chile, to officially become sister Clubs. In the photo above, Ventura Rotary South President Dante Honorico and Julio hold the sister Club proclamation. Ventura South has participated with other area Clubs to donate a vehicle to help residents in the rural area of Chile gain access to medical facilities and other services. Dante and Julio pledged to continue working together as part of their Clubs' new "sister" relationship.

Ventura Rotary South Holds Annual Bake Sale
In Support of St. Bonaventure Interact Club

Among the various fund-raising events conducted by members of Ventura Rotary South is the annual Bake Sale in support of the Interact Club at St. Bonaventure High School in Ventura. Interact is the worldwide branch of Rotary designed for young people from 12-18 who want to make a difference in global and local issues they care about. The Interact Club at St. Bonaventure has supported such causes as Caregivers (a Ventura County senior care organization), community recycling programs, Rotary International's Polio Plus Program, and even Ventura Rotary South.

Each year, St. Bonaventure Interact students and their friends bake up plates of tasty treats, which are then auctioned off to the highest bidders at a Ventura South lunch meeting. This year, we had everything from fresh chocolate chip and peanut butter cookies to homemade brownies to red velvet cake. In the photo above, Ventura South member Dennis Longwill gets the bidding started on a plate of cookies held by Interact member Angelina.

This year's Bake Sale raised a total of $1,200 in support for the Interact Club. (As usual, the tasty baked goods expanded a few waistlines as well.)

Rotary Ventura South Welcomes Norbert Tan
Of Ventura College Foundation

Norbert Tan, Executive Director of the Ventura College Foundation, addressed members and guests of Rotary Ventura South at our regular meeting on Monday, May 12. Established in 1983, the Foundation provides financial support to the students and programs of Ventura College. It ranks among the most successful community college foundations in California, having raised more than $20 million for Ventura College and its students.

Norbert described some exciting developments at the college, including contruction of a new applied science center (scheduled for completion in 2015), the 50th anniversary of the College's nursing program, and the many academic alternatives open to students, whether they are looking to Ventura College as a springboard to a four-year school, or seeking out one of the many vocational learning opportunities. "At $46 per unit," said Norbert, "Ventura College is still one of the best values around in higher education."

He noted also that the Foundation provides financial aid to qualified applicants. Last year, the Foundation awarded more than $450,000 in scholarships.

For more information about the Ventura College Foundation, visit www.vcgiving.org.

Our speaker on Monday, May 5, was Jill Shaffer, Executive Director of the Ventura County Leadership Academy. Founded in 1994, the VCLA seeks to bring local business and community leaders together each year for nine months of training and collaboration to effectively improve the quality of life in Ventura County.

Among the topics studied by the group are public safety and social services, healthcare and aging, education and workforce development, transportation and environment, water and Agriculture, and Arts and Culture. The session includes a 3-day trip to Sacramento and a group project designed to give back to the community in a meaningful and sustainable way.

Jill noted that the annual program features people from all walks of life. The maximum group size is 30, and applications are now being accepted for the 2014/2015 program that begins in September. For information, send an email to jillshaffer@vcunitedway.org.

James Carling, CEO of Ventura Limoncello Company, was the featured speaker at the Club's regular meeting on Monday, April 28. As the name implies, his company manufactures a traditional Italian after-dinner liqueur called limoncello. The lemon-based libation is a natural fit for the heavy citrus presence in Ventura County's agricultural community. "We use no fruit from outside the County," said James. "We're all about staying true to our family and true to our County."

James noted that his product is made from the peel of local lemons - no juice. Once peeled, the remaining fruit is composted and used by local farms that require acidic soils.

So as not to ignore the orange portion of the local citrus industry, Ventura Limoncello Company also produces "Orangecello," made from locally grown blood oranges.

On Monday, April 21, Past District Governor Luz Maria Ortiz (at left in the photo above) visited Rotary Ventura South to give a presentation about the Rotary Foundation, Rotary International's charitable entity. She noted her early experience with the Foundation during her first year as a Rotarian in Mexico, where funding for eye surgeries for impoverished people was made possible through Rotary Foundation grants. "The war against illness and poverty does not start in our pockets...it starts in our hearts," said Ms. Ortiz, and she presented an overview of the opportunities that Rotarians have to give to the Rotary Foundation.

One such opportunity is the Endowment Fund, which enables Rotary Foundation giving through a member's estate plan. To conclude her presentation, Ms. Ortiz presented a crystal award and special Rotary pins to Club President Dante Honorico (center) and his wife, Ellen (right), for their participation in this program.

Dante noted that "the biggest obstacle to overcoming poverty is indifference. That's what sets Rotary apart. Rotarians do care, and they show it through their commitment to service."

Ventura South Hears One Woman's Story
About the Impact of County Literacy Program

Ventura Rotary South has supported the Ventura County Library's Adult Literacy Program for more than 20 years, primarily through the Annual Trivia Challenge fundraising event. On Monday, April 14, Program CEO Carol Chapman (at right in the photo above) addressed the Club to provide an update on current activities and to thank members for their continuing support. In addition, Club members heard firsthand from a participant in that program and learned about the significant impact it has had on her and her family.

Marie Martinez (at left) told the Club about her struggles with reading in her elementary and high school years, noting that she basically "fell through the cracks" in the school system. As an adult, however, she grew dissatisfied with having to rely on others to read for her. She also wanted to be able to read to the children in her life. She connected with the Literacy Program and soon began to see the effects of her initiative in her day-to-day life, including a promotion to the first female manager of the produce department at the market where she was employed.

Marie participated in the Adult Learner Leadership Institute, a three-day intensive training program. Two years ago, she was a student in the program - last year she was an instructor. Marie also has plans to become a tutor in the Adult Literacy Program soon.

Ventura Rotary South salutes Carol and Marie for their commitment to literacy in Ventura County!

On Monday, March 24, Kim Evans, Founder and Director of the Ventura County Military Collaborative, visited Rotary Ventura South to inform members about the wide range of assistance her organization provides to County service members, veterans, and their loved ones. The Collaborative includes connections with more than 100 non-profit agencies that provide resources ranging from medical services, legal help, counseling, employment referrals, and family services, to name just a few. As part of her presentation, Kim showed a fabulous video from the last "Operation Snowflake," a yearly program designed to provide gifts, food, and an evening with Santa Claus to needy service members, veterans and their families.

For information about the Collaborative and the amazing work it does on behalf of our local military men and women, visit www.military411.org or call 805-218-1930.

Rotary Ventura South Members Receive Update
On Global Efforts to Eradicate Polio

At our regular membership meeting on Monday, March 3, Matt Miguelena from the Moorpark Noontime Rotary Club provided a fascinating and informative update on Rotary's primary humanitarian goal: the worldwide eradication of polio. Matt spoke about his involvement with National Immunization Days in India, during which millions of children receive inoculation against the disease. Many of those immunizations are administered by Rotarians, whom Matt characterized as "wonderful ambassadors for goodwill in general and the U.S. in particular.

In 2009, half the world's polio cases were in India - today there are none in that country.

Rotary's global efforts to rid the world of polio once and for all receive massive support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. For details on the program, visit endpolio.org.

At our regular Club meeting on Monday, February 10, member Nils Johnson (right) presented certificates of recognition to Beth Lyons (left) and Rosanna Colin (center) for their work on the annual Coats for Kids Project. The County-wide effort collects coats, jackets, and sweaters for needy kids of all ages during the winter season. As the Club's Community Service Chair, Nils heads up Ventura South's annual donation efforts. Congratulations and thanks to Nils, Beth, Rosanna, and to all the members who donated to this vital project!

At our regular Club meeting on Monday, February 3, Ventura South member (and Director of PRLS for District 5240) Jack Tingstrom presented members and guests with a comprehensive update of plans for expanded PRLS training availability within the District. PRLS, of course, is "Potential Rotary Leaders Seminars," and consists of six classroom sessions on a variety of topics essential for effective leadership. (Jack notes that the training is extremely valuable for business and personal growth outside of Rotary as well.)

In his presentation, Jack summarized the scope of training involved in Basic though Master PRLS classes and noted some exciting changes in class scheduling and structure to make the training available to more Rotarians. "Our vision is to reach 100 percent of Rotarians in the District within one to two years," said Jack. Judging by his passion for the PRLS Program, there's little doubt that his goal will be achieved.

Click here for information on the PRLS Program. The newest changes will be updated soon.

Ventura Rotary South Donates Dictionaries
To Local Third Grade Students (Updated!)

For the fourth consecutive year, members of Ventura Rotary South partnered with Ventura Downtown Rotary to donate dictionaries to third graders at local elementary schools. Ventura South purchased about 450 of the student-size dictionaries at a cost of $1.75 each and made visits to Will Rogers, Portola, and Junipero Serra Elementary Schools. Marilyn Scott again coordinated Ventura South's participation, and the dictionaries were presented by Stacy Zaruka, Jack Tingstrom, Bonaventure Wakam, Dante Honorico, Monty Clark, Bob Braitman, and Sandy Warren.

According to Marilyn, the teachers and principals have frequently commented that they love the program. In many cases, the dictionary is the first book that the children get to keep for their own, they can use it for several years before they outgrow it, and it provides consistency in the classroom, which benefits both the students and the teachers. Additionally, the kids always love visitors!

UPDATE!Shortly after the dictionaries were given out, Marilyn received a batch of thank-you letters from many of the students. Below are selected comments, printed exactly as the students wrote them. Truly an example of Rotary touching the local community. Enjoy!

"Thank you for the awesome dictionary. It is going to help me with homework and reports and all kinds of stuff. It made all the class happy. I am going to use it for so many things. Thank you Rotary Club." -Kyra

"Thank you for the dictionary. I have learned a lot from the dictionary. I have learned about presidents. And how big coloado is. thank you so much for the dictionary." -Evan

"Thank you for the dictionarys. They are super cool and awsome Thanks for the stickers to. I think you guys are super doper cool. I wish dictionarys can fall out of trees every single day. Thank you so much!" -Diego

"Thank you for the dictionary. I youse it to look up words that I don't know. I also like it because it is fun to look threw it. I also like the stiker that you gave us. Thank you so much and god bless you." -Christina

"Thank you for the awesome dictionary. My new dictionary has lot of facts. There is interesting information on the states. I can work on my multiplication tables with it. I can learn sign language. My favorite part is the facts about presidents. Thank you again for the dictionary. It was very nice of your group." -Tyler

Thank you for the awesome dictionary. My new dictionary is complicated than other dictionaries. It is fun beuase it has verbs and nouns. My favorite page is the longest word. I like it because it has strange things that I don't know about. Thank you for everything. -William

Julio Rocha Visits Ventura South from Chile;
Updates Members on Service Projects

On Monday, January 6, Ventura Rotary South enjoyed a visit from Julio Rocha, the Foreign Club Liaison from the Rotary Club of Olmue del Valle in Chile. In the photo above, Julio (left) exchanges club banners with Ventura Rotary South President Dante Honorico.

In his comments to the Ventura South club members, Julio provided details on two ambitious projects his home club is involved in (click on the titles below for details):

At our regular meeting on Monday, December 30, emergency medical technicians Ryan, Miguel, and Nick from AMR/Gold Coast Ambulance were on hand to provide instruction in hands-only CPR, a simple and potentially life-saving technique for assisting someone who suffers cardiac arrest. Less involved than traditional CPR, the "hands-only" version concentrates on chest compressions to circulate the oxygen already present in the blood stream.

Check out additional photos from the event in the "Photo Albums" link to the right!

At Ventura Rotary South's regular meeting on Monday, December 9, Moorpark Attorney (and fellow Rotarian) Doug Ridley led a fascinating discussion of California's laws related to the owernship and use of firearms. New and revised legislation has changed the overall gun-related environment in recent months, and Doug noted that a clear understanding is vital for anyone who intends to purchase, transport, and use any type of firearm, including those that can be concealed and those that cannot.

At our regular meeting on Monday, December 2, newly elected Ventura City Councilman and Ventura Rotary South member Erik Nasarenko spoke to those in attendance about how he managed his successful campaign as well as his "vision for Ventura." Among his goals are enhancing parks and extending library hours, improving mid-week occupancy rates for local hotels by developing a conference center, and increasing the City's sales tax base by attracting one or more "big-box" stores to the area. Congratulations on your election victory, Erik!

At our meeting on Monday, November 18, Rotary District 5240 Governor-Elect Loretta Butts spoke to members and guests about Vocational Service (one of Rotary's five Avenues of Service) and opportunities to address the needs of veterans through Rotary programs. She stressed the importance of needs assessment in evaluating potential Club projects, noting that individual Rotary Clubs need to "take a look at existing programs to make sure they are still viable and that they represent the best use of Club funds." As for veteran-related projects, including those that Ventura-South is considering, Ms. Butts stated, "let's really do something for those who have given so much to our country."

The District Governor-Elect's visit coincided with the induction of Allen Urban as the newest member of Ventura Rotary South. In the photo above, Ms. Butts congratulates Allen on his induction, along with Ventura-South President Dante Honorico. Welcome aboard, Allen!

On Monday, October 7, the members of Ventura Rotary South welcomed their newest fellow member, Rosemary Chitiea. Rosemary's induction to the Club coincided with a visit from Rotary District 5240 Governor Jack McClenahan, pictured above at Rosemary's immediate left. In his address to the Club, Jack provided an update on Rotary International's efforts to eradicate polio across the globe. He noted that "every contribution matters," from the millions of dollars donated by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to the individual $25 and $50 contributions from Rotarians around the world. Also pictured above are Ventura Rotary South President Dante Honorico (far right) and member John Zaruka (far left) who sponsored Rosemary as a new Club member.

On Monday, September 9, long-time Ventura Rotary South member Rodger Adams transferred his recently earned Paul Harris Fellowship to Father Calin Tamaiian. In the photo above, Jack McClenahan (Rotary District 5240 Governor), congratulates Fr. Tamaiian on his award. Looking on are, from left, Ventura Rotary South President Dante Honorico, Rodger Adams, and Fr. Tamaiian's wife Sarah. Paul Harris Fellowships are awarded to Club members for specific levels of financial contributions to the Paul Harris Foundation at Rotary International; members have the option of transferring those awards to a person of their choice.

To officially kick off his presidency of Rotary Ventura South for the 2013-2014 year, Dante Honorico attended the Rotary International Conference in Lisbon, Portugal. In the photo above, Dante and his wife, Ellen, greet the new president of Rotary International, Ron Burton (center). For a summary of the Conference, click here.

The members of Rotary Ventura South came together on Tuesday, July 2, to honor outgoing Club President Alan Kosh for his leadership during the 2012-2013 year. The event, held at the Wedgewood Banquet Center in Ventura, featured some good-natured roasts from past presidents, a retrospective on the Club's activities and accomplishments over the past 12 months, presentation of Paul Harris Fellowship awards, and introduction of the new Club president and board members for 2013-2014. In the photo above, incoming President Dante Honorico presents a commemorative Rotary bell trophy to Alan in recognition of his service.

The evening featured a hunting and fishing theme, in recognition of Alan's two favorite pastimes. Those in attendance came dressed in hunting and fishing attire (except for Alan, who knew nothing about it). In his portion of the program, Alan reviewed the Club's recent charitable activities (Caregivers Golf Tournament, Ventura Literacy Trivia Challenge, school dictionary give-away, Coins for Causes, Salvation Army Bell-Ringing, Coats for Kids), and presented awards to Club members for their service during the year. Nancy Gregg-Keller was honored as Rotarian of the Year for her service as Publicity and Programs Chair.

As he officially took over leadership of the Club, incoming President Honorico vowed to continue the Club's growth, both in membership and in charitable outreach. "With everyone's continued support," he said, "we'll make it a great year."

Rotary Links

Rotary News

Despite his longstanding interest in polio eradication, polio was not on Joe Pratt's mind as he prepared for a mid-April 2012 climb of Mount Everest, the highest mountain on earth. But that changed in late 2011, when the resident of Nottingham, New Hampshire, USA, participated in a polio immunization project in Pakistan with fellow Rotary member Steve Puderbaugh.
Moved by the efforts of the Pakistanis to battle the crippling disease, and by the vulnerability of the young victims, Pratt reset the focus of his climbing adventure. Pakistan is one of three countries where polio has never been...

Members of the Rotary Club of San Francisco Evening meet three times a month at a wine bar after work, share a social outing once a month, and promote all their activities on social media like Meetup and Facebook.
As the first evening club in the city, it has attracted many young professionals from Silicon Valley tech firms whose work schedules keep them from joining a more traditional club that meets for breakfast or lunch. But more than that, the evening format has helped the club grow by 30 percent since it received its charter in mid-2013.
Danielle Lallement, who was its charter president...

Blighted schools in the mountain city of Peja in western Kosovo are a reminder of the ethnic strife and war that ravaged this area in the 1990s.
To restore ruined sanitation facilities in some of those schools, local Rotary members recently partnered with their counterparts from Colorado, USA. Though residents have been slowly rebuilding the city's infrastructure after years of neglect under earlier governments, most resources are going to improve roads, rebuild homes, and create new businesses. Little money remains to restore the schools.
As a result, students have fallen ill, stayed home...

Rotary International released an additional $34.8 million in grants to support polio immunization activities in 10 countries, including Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Pakistan, the three countries where the disease has never been stopped.
The funds, whose release was announced 20 January, will be used by the World Health Organization and UNICEF for polio immunization and surveillance activities in the 10 countries, as well as to provide technical assistance in several other countries in Africa.
The grants include $8.1 million for Nigeria to support its final push to eradicate the disease. Nigeria...

Using their talents, expertise, and leadership, Rotary members worldwide are asked to be gifts to the world this upcoming 2015-16 Rotary year.
Rotary International President-elect K.R. "Ravi" Ravindran called Sunday's address to incoming district governors the "most significant moment of my life."
"All of you have been given so many gifts. And you have now been given this great gift: one year to take all your talents, all your gifts, everything that you are and can become -- and Be a Gift to the World," said Ravindran, revealing his presidential theme at the annual five-day training meeting...